diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 1048672c22eefe40ab672e43feb92707f7646d92..f09c3f28b0fedccbab2070ca0877d9829a659af3 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -5975,6 +5975,14 @@ sub process {
 	}
 
 	if ($quiet == 0) {
+		# If there were any defects found and not already fixing them
+		if (!$clean and !$fix) {
+			print << "EOM"
+
+NOTE: For some of the reported defects, checkpatch may be able to
+      mechanically convert to the typical style using --fix or --fix-inplace.
+EOM
+		}
 		# If there were whitespace errors which cleanpatch can fix
 		# then suggest that.
 		if ($rpt_cleaners) {